1) King Lear (2008) - directed for the stage by Trevor Nunn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPdYIFyY43g
It show the foolishness and madness of Old King Lear, the cruelty and cunningness of his two unjust daughters and factors in the betrayal and panic-stricken rush for greed, possession and love. Starring Sir Ian Mckellen, Ben Addis and Frances Barber. Although bringing to life Shakespeare's story of King Lear by through a dramatic and engaging performance, the only criticism I would have would be the lighting (although this could be due to the quality of the video not the performance) and the stage scenery. It give a bare, dull atmosphere that is both mundane and lifeless to witness and experience. The acting is considerable and vast but unfortunately I feel that the lightning and lack of stage scenery make it less inviting and less enjoyable.
I am also not the only one who believes Ian McKellen as King Lear is superb:
http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2007/jun/01/theatre1
2)
Wednesday 30 July 2014
Themes in King Lear
- Justice -Cordelia and her husband reach for justice when bringing their army and looking after the king
- Hatred - For King Lear by his two selfish daughters, for regan and Goneril by Cordelia etc. The hatred really motivates this play as well.
- Power - of land, relationships, of kingsmen, lack of power for King Lear, of love ....
- Control - of army, of peopel (manipulating)
- Scheming - against kingLear, the sisters with each other, it drives this play into paranoi and obsession over materialistic things.
- Betrayal - between family and loved ones. It also motivates revenge and justice.
- Reconciliation - This play could be argued that some of it ends in resolution due to forgiveness and reconciliation, but the tragedy of everyone dying could eradicate this.
- Love - lack of it for King Lear, for Goneril by her Husband, however Cordelia's love reigns for her father
Monday 28 July 2014
Summary of Synopsis
- King Lear becomes old and tired and therefore decides to retire and split his kingdom between his three daughters. But first he wants to find out who loves him most. Goneril and Reagan being wicked and cunning professed their love for their father with fakery and extravagent gestures while his youngest daughter, Cordelia knows that she need say nothing to her father for love so string cannot be put into measurable words. however, King Lear thinking she is disgraceful and not worthy, gives her nothing and splits his kingdom between Goneril and Reagan, keeping 100 kinsmen for himself.
- The Earl of Kent, being one of the King's trustworthy and favorite courtiers vouches for Cordelia but is banished for his betrayal yet he actually returns in disguise of a servingman.
- Cordelia marries the King of France and inherits the lands and prfits of her husband, including an army.
- King Lear goes to live with Goneril, yet with her hatred of her father she commands her servants to ignore him and refuse his orders. She restricts him of his kingsmen to only a few and sends him off to her sister's.
- Her sister, boasting of more hatred for their father, treats him worse and takes away more and more of his kingsmen. Their father seeing that they mean to drive him away wanders out into the wilderness on a stormy night in despair and misery only to be accompanied by his fool and then met by The Earl of kent, who then upon finding out what has happened goes to tell Cordelia in the court of France.
- Cordelia brings an army to Dover and looks after her father while Goneril and Reagan bring their army to fight back and were victorious. They have King Lear and Cordelia thrown in jail with Cordelia to be hanged. Meanwhile Goneril's husband, Duke of Albany, finally realizes how wicked his wife is and so upon hearing this Goneril kills herself not before giving a deadly poison to her sister out of jealousy and both sisters die.
- The Duke of Albany wishes to warn and stop Cordelia's hanging in light of the death of his wife and sister but is too late and she suffers the same fate as her sisters. King Lear, being alone and weak, dies.
King Lear Synopsis
Resource Link
King Lear was old and tired. He was aweary of the business of his kingdom, and wished only to end his days quietly near his three daughters. Two of his daughters were married to the Dukes of Albany and Cornwall; and the Duke of Burgundy and the King of France were both suitors for the hand of Cordelia, his youngest daughter.
Lear called his three daughters together, and told them that he proposed to divide his kingdom between them. "But first," said he, "I should like to know much you love me."
Goneril, who was really a very wicked woman, and did not love her father at all, said she loved him more than words could say; she loved him dearer than eyesight, space or liberty, more than life, grace, health, beauty, and honor.
"I love you as much as my sister and more," professed Regan, "since I care for nothing but my father's love."
Lear was very much pleased with Regan's professions, and turned to his youngest daughter, Cordelia. "Now, our joy, though last not least," he said, "the best part of my kingdom have I kept for you. What can you say?"
"Nothing, my lord," answered Cordelia.
"Nothing can come of nothing. Speak again," said the King.
And Cordelia answered, "I love your Majesty according to my duty--no more, no less."
And this she said, because she was disgusted with the way in which her sisters professed love, when really they had not even a right sense of duty to their old father.
"I am your daughter," she went on, "and you have brought me up and loved me, and I return you those duties back as are right and fit, obey you, love you, and most honor you."
Lear, who loved Cordelia best, had wished her to make more extravagant professions of love than her sisters. "Go," he said, "be for ever a stranger to my heart and me."
The Earl of Kent, one of Lear's favorite courtiers and captains, tried to say a word for Cordelia's sake, but Lear would not listen. He divided the kingdom between Goneril and Regan, and told them that he should only keep a hundred knights at arms, and would live with his daughters by turns.
When the Duke of Burgundy knew that Cordelia would have no share of the kingdom, he gave up his courtship of her. But the King of France was wiser, and said, "Thy dowerless daughter, King, is Queen of us--of ours, and our fair France."
"Take her, take her," said the King; "for I will never see that face of hers again."
So Cordelia became Queen of France, and the Earl of Kent, for having ventured to take her part, was banished from the kingdom. The King now went to stay with his daughter Goneril, who had got everything from her father that he had to give, and now began to grudge even the hundred knights that he had reserved for himself. She was harsh and undutiful to him, and her servants either refused to obey his orders or pretended that they did not hear them.
Now the Earl of Kent, when he was banished, made as though he would go into another country, but instead he came back in the disguise of a servingman and took service with the King. The King had now two friends--the Earl of Kent, whom he only knew as his servant, and his Fool, who was faithful to him. Goneril told her father plainly that his knights only served to fill her Court with riot and feasting; and so she begged him only to keep a few old men about him such as himself.
"My train are men who know all parts of duty," said Lear. "Goneril, I will not trouble you further--yet I have left another daughter."
And his horses being saddled, he set out with his followers for the castle of Regan. But she, who had formerly outdone her sister in professions of attachment to the King, now seemed to outdo her in undutiful conduct, saying that fifty knights were too many to wait on him, and Goneril (who had hurried thither to prevent Regan showing any kindness to the old King) said five were too many, since her servants could wait on him.
Then when Lear saw that what they really wanted was to drive him away, he left them. It was a wild and stormy night, and he wandered about the heath half mad with misery, and with no companion but the poor Fool. But presently his servant, the good Earl of Kent, met him, and at last persuaded him to lie down in a wretched little hovel. At daybreak the Earl of Kent removed his royal master to Dover, and hurried to the Court of France to tell Cordelia what had happened.
Cordelia's husband gave her an army and with it she landed at Dover. Here she found poor King Lear, wandering about the fields, wearing a crown of nettles and weeds. They brought him back and fed and clothed him, and Cordelia came to him and kissed him.
"You must bear with me," said Lear; "forget and forgive. I am old and foolish."
And now he knew at last which of his children it was that had loved him best, and who was worthy of his love.
Goneril and Regan joined their armies to fight Cordelia's army, and were successful; and Cordelia and her father were thrown into prison. Then Goneril's husband, the Duke of Albany, who was a good man, and had not known how wicked his wife was, heard the truth of the whole story; and when Goneril found that her husband knew her for the wicked woman she was, she killed herself, having a little time before given a deadly poison to her sister, Regan, out of a spirit of jealousy.
But they had arranged that Cordelia should be hanged in prison, and though the Duke of Albany sent messengers at once, it was too late. The old King came staggering into the tent of the Duke of Albany, carrying the body of his dear daughter Cordelia, in his arms.
And soon after, with words of love for her upon his lips, he fell with her still in his arms, and died.
King Lear was old and tired. He was aweary of the business of his kingdom, and wished only to end his days quietly near his three daughters. Two of his daughters were married to the Dukes of Albany and Cornwall; and the Duke of Burgundy and the King of France were both suitors for the hand of Cordelia, his youngest daughter.
Lear called his three daughters together, and told them that he proposed to divide his kingdom between them. "But first," said he, "I should like to know much you love me."
Goneril, who was really a very wicked woman, and did not love her father at all, said she loved him more than words could say; she loved him dearer than eyesight, space or liberty, more than life, grace, health, beauty, and honor.
"I love you as much as my sister and more," professed Regan, "since I care for nothing but my father's love."
Lear was very much pleased with Regan's professions, and turned to his youngest daughter, Cordelia. "Now, our joy, though last not least," he said, "the best part of my kingdom have I kept for you. What can you say?"
"Nothing, my lord," answered Cordelia.
"Nothing can come of nothing. Speak again," said the King.
And Cordelia answered, "I love your Majesty according to my duty--no more, no less."
And this she said, because she was disgusted with the way in which her sisters professed love, when really they had not even a right sense of duty to their old father.
"I am your daughter," she went on, "and you have brought me up and loved me, and I return you those duties back as are right and fit, obey you, love you, and most honor you."
Lear, who loved Cordelia best, had wished her to make more extravagant professions of love than her sisters. "Go," he said, "be for ever a stranger to my heart and me."
The Earl of Kent, one of Lear's favorite courtiers and captains, tried to say a word for Cordelia's sake, but Lear would not listen. He divided the kingdom between Goneril and Regan, and told them that he should only keep a hundred knights at arms, and would live with his daughters by turns.
When the Duke of Burgundy knew that Cordelia would have no share of the kingdom, he gave up his courtship of her. But the King of France was wiser, and said, "Thy dowerless daughter, King, is Queen of us--of ours, and our fair France."
"Take her, take her," said the King; "for I will never see that face of hers again."
So Cordelia became Queen of France, and the Earl of Kent, for having ventured to take her part, was banished from the kingdom. The King now went to stay with his daughter Goneril, who had got everything from her father that he had to give, and now began to grudge even the hundred knights that he had reserved for himself. She was harsh and undutiful to him, and her servants either refused to obey his orders or pretended that they did not hear them.
Now the Earl of Kent, when he was banished, made as though he would go into another country, but instead he came back in the disguise of a servingman and took service with the King. The King had now two friends--the Earl of Kent, whom he only knew as his servant, and his Fool, who was faithful to him. Goneril told her father plainly that his knights only served to fill her Court with riot and feasting; and so she begged him only to keep a few old men about him such as himself.
"My train are men who know all parts of duty," said Lear. "Goneril, I will not trouble you further--yet I have left another daughter."
And his horses being saddled, he set out with his followers for the castle of Regan. But she, who had formerly outdone her sister in professions of attachment to the King, now seemed to outdo her in undutiful conduct, saying that fifty knights were too many to wait on him, and Goneril (who had hurried thither to prevent Regan showing any kindness to the old King) said five were too many, since her servants could wait on him.
Then when Lear saw that what they really wanted was to drive him away, he left them. It was a wild and stormy night, and he wandered about the heath half mad with misery, and with no companion but the poor Fool. But presently his servant, the good Earl of Kent, met him, and at last persuaded him to lie down in a wretched little hovel. At daybreak the Earl of Kent removed his royal master to Dover, and hurried to the Court of France to tell Cordelia what had happened.
Cordelia's husband gave her an army and with it she landed at Dover. Here she found poor King Lear, wandering about the fields, wearing a crown of nettles and weeds. They brought him back and fed and clothed him, and Cordelia came to him and kissed him.
"You must bear with me," said Lear; "forget and forgive. I am old and foolish."
And now he knew at last which of his children it was that had loved him best, and who was worthy of his love.
Goneril and Regan joined their armies to fight Cordelia's army, and were successful; and Cordelia and her father were thrown into prison. Then Goneril's husband, the Duke of Albany, who was a good man, and had not known how wicked his wife was, heard the truth of the whole story; and when Goneril found that her husband knew her for the wicked woman she was, she killed herself, having a little time before given a deadly poison to her sister, Regan, out of a spirit of jealousy.
But they had arranged that Cordelia should be hanged in prison, and though the Duke of Albany sent messengers at once, it was too late. The old King came staggering into the tent of the Duke of Albany, carrying the body of his dear daughter Cordelia, in his arms.
And soon after, with words of love for her upon his lips, he fell with her still in his arms, and died.
Previous Productions of The Tempest
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDyGl2uIQ-Q
This film adaptation by Julie Taymore starring Helen Mirrem as Prospero and Felicity Jones as Miranda is slightly weird but whats interesting is it challenges the normal story-line and gender-based themes and analogy. The adaptation brings to the screen the drama and atmosphere which is often the case with cinematic productions. Because of the way it is acted and the lack of limitations this film holds it is perhaps easier to understand the language due to the actions and composition and therefore although, wacky I do like it.
This film adaptation by Julie Taymore starring Helen Mirrem as Prospero and Felicity Jones as Miranda is slightly weird but whats interesting is it challenges the normal story-line and gender-based themes and analogy. The adaptation brings to the screen the drama and atmosphere which is often the case with cinematic productions. Because of the way it is acted and the lack of limitations this film holds it is perhaps easier to understand the language due to the actions and composition and therefore although, wacky I do like it.
Main Themes of The Tempest
- Power - the lack of it and fight for it as well as use of it by prospero/The King etc.
- Control - of the Island, of love, of servants, of magic.
- Betrayal - plotting against masters and enemies e.g Caliban and Pospero.
- Revenge - This ties in with Power and control and getting it back through means of revenge
- Forgiveness - combined with resolution at the end of the play
Synopsis of The Tempest
Own Synopsis
The Tempest follows the story of Prospero, a sorcerer and the rightful Duke of Milan and his daughter Miranda who were once set adrift on a boat as result of the Duke's brother, Antonio and the king of Naples, Alonso plot to steal the throne 12 years before. At present in the play they now are marooned upon an island where Prospero is served by Ariel, a spirit who he once freed from a tree. The story begins with a storm, summoned by Prospero, to shipwreck his enemies who sail near by with only scattered survivors making it to shore. The son on Alonso, Ferdinand is lured towards Ariel because of his singing and meets Miranda where she feels infactuated by him and tus a romance begins. Meanwhile Antonio, Alonso, Sebastian, and Gonzalo go in search of Ferdinand, however Antonio and Sebastian now plot to murder Alonso, however Ariel intervenes.
Meanwhile, the fools of the play, Stephano and Trinculo meet Caliban and plot to kill Prospero so that Caliban can rule the Island himself.
The climax of the play include Prospero descending trickery upon Alonso and Antonio by creating a magical baquet for them that disappears every time they try to eat it, and also sends Ariel in disguise of a harpy to scare the men as well as sending Ariel to punish Caliban and the foolsmen for the crime of engineering their own plot of murder.
Resolution occurs when Prospero finally confronts his brother and Alonso revealing his identity and demanding that he be restored the throne as the rightful Duke of Milan. He rebukes Sebastian for plotting against his own brother and reveals to Alonso that Ferdinand is alive and has married Miranda. Prospero then releases Ariel and Caliban of their services and leaves his magic behind to return back to Naples/.
The Tempest Characters
- Alonso, King of Naples
- Sebastian, his brother
- Prospero, the rightful Duke of Milan
- Antonio, his brother; the usurping Duke of Milan
- Ferdinand, son of the King
- Gonzalo, an old and honest councilor
- Adrian, a lord
- Francisco, a lord
- Caliban, Prospero's slave
- Trinculo, a jester
- Stephano, a drunken butler
- Master of a ship
- Boatswain
- Mariners
- Miranda, Prospero's daughter
- Ariel, an airy spirit
- Iris, a spirit
- Ceres, a spirit
- Juno, a spirit
- Nymphs
- Reapers
- Other Spirits; attendants to Prospero
Thursday 24 July 2014
Previous Production of A Midsummer Night's Dream
1) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbPFvX2E13Y
The 1999 screen adaptation of A Midsummer Nights Dream starring Christian Bale and Calista Flockhart I think offers an understandable and imaginative outlook on Shakespeare's play, where you can really sense the plot and setting of the story with the scenery and camera angles. The CGI technology was a breakthrough in that time that highlights the fairy's and their significance. This previous production depicts a realistic performance on screen and therefore feels more real because of the lack of stage and limiting location.
2) Regents Park Open Air Theatre
https://openairtheatre.com/production/a-midsummer-nights-dream
In 2012 I went to see A Midsummer Nights Dream in the open air theatre and then our director used inspiration from that previous performance to adapt our own creative performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream that I performed in as Helena
3) Our own performance - Holy Trinity C of E Secondary School
The 1999 screen adaptation of A Midsummer Nights Dream starring Christian Bale and Calista Flockhart I think offers an understandable and imaginative outlook on Shakespeare's play, where you can really sense the plot and setting of the story with the scenery and camera angles. The CGI technology was a breakthrough in that time that highlights the fairy's and their significance. This previous production depicts a realistic performance on screen and therefore feels more real because of the lack of stage and limiting location.
2) Regents Park Open Air Theatre
https://openairtheatre.com/production/a-midsummer-nights-dream
In 2012 I went to see A Midsummer Nights Dream in the open air theatre and then our director used inspiration from that previous performance to adapt our own creative performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream that I performed in as Helena
3) Our own performance - Holy Trinity C of E Secondary School
Themes of A Midsummer Night's Dream
- LOVE
- LUST
- DISAPPOINTMENT
- CONFUSION
- MARRIAGE
- ENCHANTMENT
- MISCHIEVOUS
- MAGIC
- DREAM
A Midsummer Nights Dream Synopsis
The plot of AMSND revolves around three parallel stories; two sets of lovers where their love becomes entangled and twisted; the enchanted forest where lives the Fairy King and Queen dealing with their own domestic dispute; a group of rough craftsmen (also know as the fools) trying to secretly rehearse a badly-written play of Pyramus and Thisby also in the enchanted forest to perform on The Duke of Athens wedding day.
The four lovers' love quadrangle consist of Hermia and Lysander who love each other and run away to the enchanted forest due to Hermia's father being insistant of her marrying Demetrius. Demetrius pursues the two lovers to the forest with Helena at his heels for she 'nurses an unrequited passion for him'. The famous line 'The course of love never did run smooth' best describes the climatic plot of A Midsummer Night's Dream. The love quadrangle is further complicated when Oberon commands Puck, (The kings hand help) to use the drop of a magic flower aid their love lives. The magic accidentally turns in Helena's favor with both men falling for her under the influence of magic, yet she thinks all three of them 'have conjoined all three to fashion this false sport in spite of [her]'. All the lovers quarrel and become confused and aggressive under Puck's smog of magic.
Manwhile, Oberon and Titania are estranged after arriving in the forest to attend Theseus' and Hippolyta's wedding becasue Titania refuses to give up her Indian page-boy to Oberon for use of his henchman because she has looked after him since the child's mother (one of her worshipers) died.
As the plot unfolds more magical enchantment is bestowed upon the mechanicals and Titania.
However, in the ruins of Athens. as the end draws near, the play is performed in front of the Duke and Duchess and all magic is removed from the lovers and thus they decide it must have all been a dream. Yet, the magic is allowed to be left upon Demetrius so that he may return Helena's love and all discord is removed. A double wedding occurs and all ends in resolution.
Resource website
The four lovers' love quadrangle consist of Hermia and Lysander who love each other and run away to the enchanted forest due to Hermia's father being insistant of her marrying Demetrius. Demetrius pursues the two lovers to the forest with Helena at his heels for she 'nurses an unrequited passion for him'. The famous line 'The course of love never did run smooth' best describes the climatic plot of A Midsummer Night's Dream. The love quadrangle is further complicated when Oberon commands Puck, (The kings hand help) to use the drop of a magic flower aid their love lives. The magic accidentally turns in Helena's favor with both men falling for her under the influence of magic, yet she thinks all three of them 'have conjoined all three to fashion this false sport in spite of [her]'. All the lovers quarrel and become confused and aggressive under Puck's smog of magic.
Manwhile, Oberon and Titania are estranged after arriving in the forest to attend Theseus' and Hippolyta's wedding becasue Titania refuses to give up her Indian page-boy to Oberon for use of his henchman because she has looked after him since the child's mother (one of her worshipers) died.
As the plot unfolds more magical enchantment is bestowed upon the mechanicals and Titania.
However, in the ruins of Athens. as the end draws near, the play is performed in front of the Duke and Duchess and all magic is removed from the lovers and thus they decide it must have all been a dream. Yet, the magic is allowed to be left upon Demetrius so that he may return Helena's love and all discord is removed. A double wedding occurs and all ends in resolution.
Resource website
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